The jet arrived at the airline's hub in Almaty, Kazakhstan on Dec. 30 and began passenger service Tuesday, Pratt said.

Delivery of 17 GTF-powered aircraft are expected between now and 2020, said Peter Foster, president and CEO of Air Astana.

Since entering into service in early 2016, the GTF engine has demonstrated its ability to reduce fuel burn by 16 percent, reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 50 percent and to lower the noise footprint by 75 percent, Pratt said.

Pratt is a division of Farmington conglomerate United Technologies Corp.